Mandevilla plant named ‘Lanmichigan’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mandevilla  plant named ‘Lanmichigan’, characterized by its compact and bushy plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; glossy dark green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; and white-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla boliviensis×Mandevilla Sanderi.

Cultivar denomination: ‘LANMICHIGAN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Mandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla boliviensis×Mandevilla Sanderi and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Lanmichigan’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Malause, France. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Mandevilla plants with numerous white-colored flowers.

The new Mandevilla plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Malause, France of an unnamed selection of Mandevilla boliviensis, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with Mandevilla Sanderi ‘Blanc’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Mandevilla plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Malause, France.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Malause, France, since May, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Mandevilla plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Lanmichigan’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Lanmichigan’ as a new and distinct Mandevilla plant:

-   -   1. Compact and bushy plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. White-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more compact than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla have shorter internodes than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla have smaller leaves than plants         of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Blanc’. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants of ‘Blanc’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more vigorous than plants of         ‘Blanc’.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more freely branching than         plants of ‘Blanc’.     -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla have thinner and glossier leaves         than plants of ‘Blanc’.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Mandevilla are star-shaped         whereas flowers of plants of ‘Blanc’ are more rounded.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of selections of Mandevilla Sanderi with white-colored flowers known to the Inventor, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Malause, France, plants of the new Mandevilla differed from plants of selections of Mandevilla Sanderi known to the Inventor in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla were more freely branching than         plants of selections of Mandevilla Sanderi known to the         Inventor.     -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla had smaller leaves than plants         of selections of Mandevilla Sanderi known to the Inventor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Mandevilla plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Lanmichigan’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Lanmichigan’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the autumn in two-liter containers in polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Malause, France and under cultural practices typical of Mandevilla commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 8° C. to 26° C. and night temperatures ranged from 3° C. to 15° C. Plants were six months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mandevilla boliviensis×Mandevilla Sanderi     ‘Lanmichigan’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Mandevilla             boliviensis, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Mandevilla Sanderi ‘Blanc’, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at 23° C. to             25° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at 23° C.             to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About five to             six weeks at 23° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About six to             eight weeks at 23° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, fine; light yellowish white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact and bushy plant habit;             upright to outwardly spreading; moderately vigorous to             vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 32 cm.         -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 53.5 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Moderately             freely branching habit with about six lateral branches             developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch             development. Length: About 25.4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Internode length: About 3.1 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144A to 144B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 5.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Obovate to broadly ovate.         -   Apex.—Abruptly acute.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: More intense than             143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Full             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137B; venation,             close to 145A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Between             146B and 147B; venation, close to 145A.         -   Petiole length.—About 9 mm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 1.5 mm.         -   Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Petiole color, upper surface.—Close to 144B tinged with             close to 152A.         -   Petiole color, lower surface.—Close to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers             arranged in axillary racemes; flowers star-shaped and face             upright and outwardly; freely flowering habit with about             three flowers developing per inflorescence and about 18             flowers developing per plant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit with plants             begin to flower about six weeks after planting; plants             flower continuously from summer into the autumn in France.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About seven days; flowers not             persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Moderately faint, pleasant.         -   Flowers.—Appearance: Flared trumpet, corolla fused and             five-parted. Diameter: About 8.2 cm. Depth (length): About             6.8 cm. Tube length: About 5.2 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 6.8 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm.             Shape: Narrowly obovate. Color: Close to 145C to 145D;             towards the base, close to 145A.         -   Corolla.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a             single whorl and fused at the base. Petal length: About             9.4 cm. Petal width: About 3 cm. Petal shape and appearance:             Roughly spatulate; lower 55% of the petal is fused. Petal             apex: Bluntly acute. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly             velvety. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface:             Close to 69C, towards the base, close to 155C; throat, close             to 14B, towards the base of the throat, close to 31A. Petal,             when opening, lower surface: Close to 69C, towards the base,             close to 155C; tube, close to 150C to 150D, towards the base             of the tube, close to 14D. Petal, fully opened, upper             surface: Close to NN155D flushed with close to N155B;             throat, close to 17C striped with close to 25B, towards the             base of the throat, close to 31A. Petal, fully opened, lower             surface: Close to NN 155D slightly flushed with close to             N155B; tube, close to 19D, towards the base of the tube,             close to 14D.         -   Corona.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a             single whorl. Sepal length: About 8 mm. Sepal width: About             2 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Narrowly             acuminate. Sepal base: Roughly truncate. Sepal margin:             Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Sepal color: Immature and mature, upper surface:             Close to 144D. Immature and mature, lower surface: Close to             144D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.8 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Flexible, but strong.             Color: Close to 143B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Flexible, but strong.             Color: Close to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement:             Typically five; basifixed; anthers connivent. Filament             length: About 1 mm. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther             length: About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 160B. Pollen             amount: None observed. Pistils: Quantity: Typically one.             Pistil length: About 2.3 cm. Style length: About 2 cm. Style             color: Close to 145D. Stigma shape: Conical. Stigma color:             Close to 154C. Ovary color: Close to 144C.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed on plants of the new Mandevilla. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have not     been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Mandevilla plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been     observed to tolerate high temperatures of about 40° C. and to be     hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 9. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named ‘Lanmichigan’ as illustrated and described. 